ABSTRACT
THE rocky ravines around the temple of Serabit have never been planned until now; nor have the positions of the mines been mapped, or even described in relation to the temple. Such work was, therefore, one of the matters which claimed two or three days' attention. I measured a base of about 150 ft.; extended another from that of about a quarter of a mile in length; and then triangulated with box-sextant all the hill-tops around. The positions of these hills, when calculated out aI?-d plotted, served as fixed points for observing on with the pris~natic compass; and from two to four bearings were taken for each natural feature as I went on. I plotted these features while on the ground, and immediately sketched in the valley lines which are shown in lVIap 3. This map is, therefore, more accurate as to the hilltops and high features than it is to the valleys. As the mines are all in the top-level, this is what was needed. The valleys might have more detail shown in the bottoms, more especially at the various cascades and the lower edges opening into the Wady Serabit. But such detail would be of no practical value, so far as we can see, there being no ancient remains at the lower levels. The lines drawn here represent the cliff-escarpments in most cases, and are not, therefore, at equal distances apart or at precise levels. In showing ravines, the sides of which are mainly in vertical stages like steps, with a single stage often some hundreds of feet high, it is
MAPPING. SUCCESSIVE DENUDATIONS 57 general azimuth of this part of the ordnance map, therefore, requires checking. The Wady Dmm Agraf, which turns northward, I sketched by sun-direction as I walked, and timed the distances. It was then fitted between the two termini, and the lower third agrees closely with the part which is shown in the Egyptian survey.
